Much of the
discussion lately about Michigan public schools has centered on funding and
costs. In the midst of this debate, it's easy to lose focus on schools' most
important goal: boosting student achievement. But there's a way the state can
help schools improve by both measures. If Michigan expanded online learning
opportunities, schools would become more efficient and students could learn
more.

Although the
latest Michigan Educational Assessment Program results label more students
"proficient" than ever before, by national standards Michigan students perform
below average. Through online learning, more students can gain access to the
type of high-quality instruction that is vital to improving student
achievement.

The money they save by not having to erect and maintain buildings enable virtual schools to attract high-performing teachers by compensating them well.

Online learning
allows for teachers to instruct and interact with students via the Internet.
Some programs use this method exclusively (fully online), while others use a
mixture of traditional face-to-face and online contact (blended learning).
Fully online courses don't require students to regularly attend a conventional
bricks-and-mortar school and are most appropriate for higher levels of
schooling. They also hold the most promise for elevating student learning and
closing achievement gaps, because fully online programs can help break down many
of the barriers that limit a student's access to excellent teaching.

Research
indicates that after controlling for socio-economic considerations, the number
one factor contributing to student performance is teacher quality. Studies show
that in a single academic year, a student with a high-performing teacher can
gain as much as 1.5 grade level equivalents, while that same student with a
low-performing teacher would only gain 0.5 grade level equivalents. Virtual
schooling enables more students to gain access to the excellent teachers who
can enhance their achievement.

Research also
demonstrates that instructional quality is not watered down in online
environments. In fact, recent studies suggest that online learning can be even
more effective than traditional face-to-face instruction. Last year, the U.S.
Department of Education analyzed 51 different studies of online learning in
primary, secondary and higher education. The study concluded, "Students who
took all or part of their class online performed better, on average, than those
taking the same course through traditional face-to-face instruction."

The greatest
potential benefit of online learning is the narrowing of the achievement gaps
that have developed between urban, rural and suburban students. Urban and rural
schools generally have a difficult time offering as much high-quality
instruction or as many academic options to students because the best teachers
tend to gravitate to the schools with the larger budgets and expansive
opportunities. Access to quality instruction, therefore, has largely been tied
to where a student resides, putting urban and rural kids at a distinct
disadvantage. Online learning can make access to excellent teachers and
instruction more equitable.

An added bonus
of fully online learning programs is that they have been shown to operate more
efficiently than conventional brick-and-mortar schools, meaning the state could
save money for each student taking courses online. A study of the Florida
Virtual School, the largest state-run program offering fully online courses,
found it spent $1,500 less per full-time pupil than Florida's conventional
schools. Virtual charter schools in Pennsylvania, which also offer fully online
courses, operate with only 73 percent of the revenue that the state's
brick-and-mortar schools receive.

Virtual schools
cost less on average because they don't have to provide noninstructional
services and programs like food, transportation or athletics. Since they don't
require a physical building to house students, they have significantly reduced
capital expenditures as well. For some of these reasons, virtual schools and
online courses might not be the right fit for every student, but it's important
to remember that some of the money they save can be directed toward personnel.
In the end, the money they save by not having to erect and maintain buildings
enable virtual schools to attract high-performing teachers by compensating them
well.

Unfortunately,
Michigan's laws are stifling the growth of online learning. One such law
restricts the number of fully online classes that students can take to two per
year. Recent legislation allows for the creation of only two virtual charter
schools, and arbitrarily caps the enrollment of these schools at 1,000
students. Fortunately, Mike Flanagan, the state superintendent of public
instruction, created a special waiver that enables students to take as many
online courses as they choose through the Genesee Intermediate School
District's online program. This is a good start, but Michigan should eliminate
all of these restrictions and allow more students to access online learning
programs and high-quality instruction.

A lot of people
talk about preparing kids for the jobs and challenges of the 21st century, yet
the method for delivering this product is in large part stuck in the 19th
century. It's time for Michigan to embrace, encourage and promote virtual
schooling.

#####

Michael Van Beek
is director of education policy at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, a
research and educational institute headquartered in Midland, Mich. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is
hereby granted, provided that the author and the Center are properly cited.

ISSN: 1093-2240,
SKU: V2010-12

SummaryOnline schools can increase student achievement and are less expensive to operate than conventional schools.